This is especially true when it comes to specialty materials, like the 6 by 4½-foot sheets of neoprene from which Mr. Jones makes his couture-level surf suits. It would not be unreasonable to call Mr. Jones, 42, the Willy Wonka of wet suits. A self-taught designer and tailor, he has sewn wet suits for surf legends like Gerry Lopez, Mickey Muñoz, Skip Frye and L.J. Under the label Jonesea, he crafts wet suits in colors like goldenrod and merlot, and in cheetah and tie-dye prints. The suit retailed for $3,900 — significantly more than the Jonesea label suits, which start around $300.

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Persons: ” Shane Jones, Jones, Willy Wonka, Gerry Lopez, Mickey Muñoz, Skip Frye, L.J, Richards, Evel Knievel, Minnie Mouse, Freddy Krueger’s, Thom Browne Locations: Japan, Brazil, Germany